Each week, Matt Hayes breaks down all 14 teams in the SEC. Yes, get used to it—14.

1. Alabama

2. LSU

3. Arkansas

4. South Carolina

5. Georgia

6. Tennessee

7. Mississippi State

8. Missouri

9. Texas A&M

10. Florida

11. Auburn

12. Vanderbilt

13. Ole Miss

14. Kentucky

Rising

Tennessee. The Vols looked like a completely different team than last year’s incompetent offense and overworked defense. It’s one game—and we don’t really know how good NC State is—but it sure looked impressive. WR Cordarrelle Patterson gives the Vols more speed on the outside—and some hope heading into a brutal stretch of games beginning next week that will determine just how good Tennessee can be. From Sept 15 to Oct. 27—a stretch of six games, Tennessee plays Florida, Akron, at Georgia, at Mississippi State, Alabama and at South Carolina.

Lead story

A first for the newbies. Texas A&M and Missouri begin their first SEC season this week with home games against Florida and Georgia, respectively. Both are winnable. But this is also where both teams realize what makes the SEC tick: defense. The Gators and Bulldogs have two of the best defensive lines in the league, and will pressure the pass-oriented offenses of Texas A&M and Missouri.